What is 5G?

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In the 2010s, there has been a lot of talk about the new generation of wireless technology, known as 5G. This new standard promises to deliver faster speeds, lower latency, and more reliability than ever before. In addition, 5G is also expected to enable a new wave of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and applications.

It took a while but it’s finally here!

In the 2022s, while 5G was not yet widely available, it was already starting to be deployed in select markets around the world. In the United States, for example, Verizon had begun rolling out 5G service in select cities. And in South Korea, SK Telecom launched the world’s first 5G network. Currently, about 33% of North America has access to the network using the next generation.

So, what exactly is 5G? And how does it differ from the previous 4G LTE networks? Let’s take a closer look.

What is 5G?

5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology. It follows in the footsteps of 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. 5G promises several key benefits over its predecessors, like:

• Faster speeds: 5G technology supports peak data rates of up to 100 Gbps. That’s 20 times faster than 4G LTE.
• Lower latency: 5G networks have latency as low as 1 ms. That’s a significant improvement over 4G networks, which have latency in the 10-20 ms range.
• More reliability: 5G networks are much more reliable than 4G networks. They are able to support far more devices and are able to handle higher traffic volumes with less congestion.
• Improved battery life: One of the biggest challenges with the previous 4G LTE networks was that they could be quite power-hungry. 5G networks are much more efficient, leading to improved battery life for devices that connect to them.

5G is now also available in all of the United States, Canada and most of Europe and Asia.

What are some of the potential applications of 5G?

The faster speeds and lower latency of 5G enable a whole new range of applications and use cases that were not possible with previous generations of wireless technology. Some of the most promising applications of 5G include:

Enhanced mobile broadband: The faster speeds of 5G will provide a major boost to traditional mobile activities like web browsing, social media, and streaming video. By enabling speeds up to 20 Gbps, 5G will make it possible to download entire movies in just seconds. And by reducing latency down to 1 ms, 5G will make it possible to stream live video with virtually no lag.

Ultra-reliable low-latency communications: The low latency and high reliability of 5G will enable new applications that require real-time communication with little or no tolerance for delays or errors. These applications include things like remote surgery, autonomous vehicles, and industrial automation.

Massive IoT: The improved efficiency of 5G will make it possible to connect far more devices to the network than ever before. This will enable new IoT applications in areas like smart cities, connected homes, and wearables. In addition, the low latency of 5G will enable new types of real-time applications like augmented reality and virtual reality.

What are some of the challenges with deploying 5G?

One of the biggest challenges with deploying 5G is that it requires a major upgrade to existing wireless infrastructure. In order to achieve the high speeds and low latency promised, base stations must be equipped with new radio equipment and must be connected to fiber-optic backhaul. This upgrade process is expected to take several years and billions of dollars.

Another challenge is that it operates at significantly higher frequencies than previous generations of wireless technology. These higher frequencies, known as millimeter waves, are more susceptible to interference and have a shorter range than lower frequency signals. As a result, deploying 5G will require a denser network of base stations than 4G LTE.

What is now possible with 5G?

The problem with previous network connections was that the average speed of the connection was below 1MB/s worldwide, this meant that it was not possible to use a cellular connection for anything other than simple web browsing.

With 5G there is a plethora of possibilities open for businesses to develop!

• 3D Product configurators
• Metaverse
• Pixel Streaming from high-end PC to your smartphone
• and many many more!